Why I choose the yuneec Q500 as my first drone?

If you are shopping your first drone, or you are searching a drone which is easy to fly and has a noticeable camera. Then I’d like to recommend you the Yuneec Typhoon Q500, just as I choose the Typhoon Q500 as my first drone.

When we choose drones, one model rules the skies. DJI’s Phantom drone, the Phantom 4 in particular.

Though similar in size, weight, and price, the Typhoon is no Phantom knockoff. It’s not a Phantom killer, either. Both have their strengths, and which one is best for you depends largely on what you plan to do with it. The Typhoon’s camera produces excellent results, and while the drone is slower and more sluggish than others, it’s remarkably easy to pilot. It’s a drone for people nervous about trying to control a $1,200 piece of flying equipment.

The Typhoon Q500 looks a bit more aggressive than DJI’s shining happy drones, with sleeker lines and a back end that resembles the head of the space-creatures in Alien. It’s also larger than the more familiar Phantoms, and made of plastic far flimsier than I’m used to seeing. That’s partly due to the fact that the Typhoon Q500 landing gear (and gimbal) can be snapped off with no special tools and stored in a much flatter package.

Unlike DJI’s offerings, the Typhoon’s base controller ships with a built-in screen in the form of a small Android device sporting 480p resolution. On one hand, it’s nice not to have so many different parts to keep track of. But there’s no way to add a bigger, clearer screen when, for example, a new iPad mini is released (the mobile device I currently use with the Phantom 3).

The screen is bright, though flying in direct sunlight remains difficult. To be fair, that’s true of every screen I’ve ever used to fly a drone. Yuneec helpfully includes a sunshade that attaches, awkwardly, to the controller with suction cups. It doesn’t completely solve the problem, but it does help.

I found the controller familiar enough to all but eliminate a learning curve. First-timers should have an easy time with it. The Typhoon’s video and still image capture buttons are chunkier than anything I’ve used, but that makes them easier to find without looking down at your hands. The included app is intuitive enough that I never cracked the manual. The touch screen is responsive as well, which is good because some of the menus and buttons are really tiny.

The Typhoon’s flight control system is great overall, it makes flying dead simple and trumps everything I’ve used save the new controller for the Phantom 3.

If you are a green hand, Yuneec Typhoon Q500 is quite a good choice.It might take a fairly skilled pilot to take advantage of all these options and features, but at the end of it all, it’s more than worth it.

 

 

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3DR Solo vs Yuneec Q500

3DR Solo vs Yuneec Q500,which one would you buy?

If you’re going to get the 3DR Solo, you probably already have or like a GoPro, you’re new to quadcopters, you like open source.

For starters, the Solo is the drone that boasts not one, but two dedicated 1GHz Cortex-A9 Linux computers. There’s one in the controller, and one onboard the drone itself that handles all high-level flight scripting, freeing Solo’s Pixhawk 2 autopilot to focus solely on keeping the copter in the air. This configuration makes the drone incredibly reliable, as there’s a much lower chance of a firmware freeze.

Second of all, you won’t find a camera on this drone. You’ll need to bring your own GoPro to the party, and it’s only compatible with Hero models 3, 3+ and 4. Obviously, the downside of this is that if you don’t already own a GoPro, you’ll need to drop an extra $400 or $500 before you can film anything from the air. The upside? You’re not married to the same camera forever, and can upgrade to a nicer model when better tech becomes available. And if you’ve already got a GoPro handy, you’re golden.

Third, this drone can fly like a bat out of hell. 3DR doesn’t boast about it very much, but Solo can hit over 55 MPH if you take the training wheels off. That’s 10 MPH faster that DJI’s new Phantom 4, and it’ll go even faster with a good tailwind behind it. If you need a drone that can keep up with a car, motorcycle, snowboard, mountain bike, or anything else that moves fast, Solo would be a fantastic choice.

Solo’s autonomous flight modes, which include Selfie, Cable Cam, Orbit, and Follow, are designed to make it easier to get professional-looking aerial video. The drone handles all the flight, which allows you to focus solely on capturing a great shot.

If you’re not keen on keeping up with every new iPhone release, Yuneec’s Q500 Typhoon 4K is a solid option.

Rather than relying on a smartphone as half of the controls, the Yuneec’s Android-based remote controller has a built-in touchscreen for flight monitoring. This design not only expedites the setup process but also removes the pressure on you to sport the latest and greatest mobile device.

As the name implies, the Yuneec Q500 4K shoots 4K video, which is gradually replacing 1080p, and captures raw-format still images. It does offer useful navigation features such as Waypoints and Follow Me, and its camera is removable and replaceable (a bonus if it ever sustains damage or if Yuneec releases a better model). And though this model is monstrous in comparison with the others we tested, its stealthy gunmetal-gray design is aesthetically pleasing.

Both of drones come with smart controls designed to ease the learning curve for beginners, an intuitive control scheme. Your choice between the two may come down to the camera and price.

 

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3DR Solo vs Yuneec Q500 4K: Who is for you?

3DR Solo vs Yuneec Q500,which one would you buy?

Your choice between the two may come down to other factors such as:

FEATURES & SPECS

Easy to use yet sophisticated, the Yuneec Q500 grants even amateur photogs the ability to produce professional-grade images and video. The fully controllable 3-axis gimbal camera can shoot straight ahead to capture the horizon, or pivot up to 90 degrees down to capture overhead footage.

Aside from its optical fortitude, the drone packs two unique autonomous modes “Watch we” and “Follow me” to give beginner pilots a hand. And the ST10+ gives you a front row seat to exactly what the drone sees as it flies.

While,the 3DR Solo is the drone that boasts not one, but two dedicated 1GHz Cortex-A9 Linux computers. There’s one in the controller, and one onboard the drone itself that handles all high-level flight scripting, freeing Solo’s Pixhawk 2 autopilot to focus solely on keeping the copter in the air. This configuration makes the drone incredibly reliable, as there’s a much lower chance of a firmware freeze.

Solo’s autonomous flight modes, which include Selfie, Cable Cam, Orbit, and Follow, are designed to make it easier to get professional-looking aerial video. The drone handles all the flight, which allows you to focus solely on capturing a great shot.

In addition, Solo also has a number of flight modes that provide advanced pilots with full (or only slightly assisted) manual control over the drone’s flight.

CAMERA

With the term 4K part of this quadcopter’s name, it should come as no surprise that the Q500 boasts a hell of a camera. Mounted directly underneath the craft, the CGO3 packs a 115-degree field of view, 1080p full HD, and 4K ultra-high definition at 30 frames per second. The ST10+ controller allows for advanced tinkering with the camera’s video settings, or novice flyers can rely on automatic settings.

If shooting 4K video isn’t quite your speed, the Yuneec Q500 also allows users to capture 1080p/120fps slow motion video, granting videographers added flexibility. Switching to slow motion on the ST10+ controller requires minimal navigation, and makes it a snap to switch modes when the need arises.

On the other hand, you won’t find a camera on the 3DR Solo. You’ll need to bring your own GoPro to the party, and it’s only compatible with Hero models 3, 3+ and 4. Obviously, the downside of this is that if you don’t already own a GoPro, you’ll need to drop an extra $400 or $500 before you can film anything from the air. The upside? You’re not married to the same camera forever, and can upgrade to a nicer model when better tech becomes available. And if you’ve already got a GoPro handy, you’re golden.

For the time being, that’s all you can get — but 3DR allegedly has a lot more in the pipeline. An open SDK allows third-party developers to design custom apps and integrations for the drone. And it’s not just open to new software either — Solo is also equipped with an open accessory bay, which allows users to attach aftermarket hardware onto the drone as well. The Solo does scores high marks for upgradability.

FLIGHT PERFORMANCE

The flight performance is arguably where Yuneec Q500 shines brightest. Not only do its smart modes allow for some of the simplest flying we’ve ever experienced, but we also found the controller’s easy-to-use dual joysticks make even the free-flying Angle mode incredibly natural — especially for novices. Because of this, very little prior experience is needed to get the Typhoon quadcopter into the air after unboxing.

When it comes to 3DR Solo, it boasts one of the easiest, most straightforward piloting experiences we’ve ever encountered. There are two reasons for this. First, the controller was built from the ground up to look, feel, and operate more like a video game controller, which makes piloting feel very familiar and intuitive for users that are new to hobby aircraft. Second, the drone’s numerous autonomous flight modes allow you to perform maneuvers that would otherwise take lots of practice and skill.

Unlike traditional controllers that feature a dizzying array of buttons, knobs, and switches; Solo is stripped down to the bare essentials. All the other settings and controls (including GoPro settings) are handled inside the accompanying mobile app, which keeps the main controller interface very uncluttered and easy to navigate. The only downside? You can only fly if you’re connected to a smartphone or tablet, which is yet another thing that you have to worry about keeping charged up. The fact that you typically need to keep the screen on full brightness only exacerbates the problem. A couple of our flying expeditions were cut short due to a rapidly-drained smartphone battery, but so long as you’ve got everything charged up and running smoothly, the Solo is a breeze to fly.

BATTERY LIFE,PRICE

As much of a downer as it is to have to stop enjoying the Yuneec Q500 after just 20 minutes, an extra battery allows you to get the drone right back up into the air. It is now priced at $799.

As for the battery, 3DR equipped this badboy with a rechargeable 5,200 mAh 14.8Vdc lithium ion battery, which allegedly gives it 25 minutes of flight time without the camera, and about 20 minutes with it. As the 3DR are no longer making Solo drone,now it comes in at a price of about $349,that price doesn’t include the camera gimbal or the camera itself.

 

 

 

 

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Yuneec drone quality issues cascade from unit to unit

Buying a Yuneec drone means living with quality issues that can run from minor to major, hurting the brand image and raising questions on R&D efforts and learning from customer feedback.

The quality control issues are not unlike those that plagued the U.S. auto industry in the 1970s as companies were more interested in turning out volume.

Those companies kept assembly lines going even as buyers of cars complained of “lemons” and raised a stink with dealers for repairs and replacements–or more ominously turned to manufacturers that stressed quality. This is something already happening with many a Yuneec drone.

Reports have suggested something similar has happened with the Typhoon H series of Yuneec drone.

Talk has centered on a massive backlog of repairs needed for Yuneec Q500 models, another Yuneec drone, that are returned under warranty to the factory where they can sit for more than a month before any work is completed and hopefully sent back repaired. This issue alone has driven a high-volume of customer service feedback complaints about the Yuneec drone.

That means the company is dealing with legacy issues and not as focused on the assembly line production for the Typhoon H, resulting in a need to retool the process and design of the units from initial beta models.

Of course Yuneec is not alone as a company that has a steep learning curve, but the issues appear to be quite visible in the Yuneec drone. Some of the issues with more than one Yuneec drone are constant and call into question where the company wants to be in a competitive industry that has seen chief rival DJI deploy massive R&D resources to develop proprietary technologies, such as Lightbridge 2 to keep communications stable between drones and controllers, and pays attention to issues such as batter life and quality by using high-end LiPo units.

On the other hand, a Yuneec drone pilot needs fixes for the internal WiFi card of Yuneec Q500 –a solder that basically places the antenna in a better position to receive a signal. That seems basic.

For the higher end models, Yuneec has not yet solved problems with the access to GPS satellites needed to ensure better connections and operations. Many a Yuneec drone ends up flying blind. DJI on the other hand has access to more low-earth satellite connections and uses GLONASS satellite positioning, marking a sharp difference.

Those efforts have caught the attention of reviewers around the world.

“Yuneec has also been living in the shadow of DJI for the past few years. No matter how advanced or capable Yuneec’s Typhoon drones have gotten, the company just can’t seem to unseat DJI from its throne,” Drew Prindle writes.

To be fair, Yuneec has added new features that Yuneec drone pilots can tap into in response to industry trends and customer demand, but innovation comes slow.

The DJI Phantom 4 for example has a visual avoidance technology that rotates with the camera, while the Typhoon H uses sonar. Both are good, except in a drone it matters how many objects can be seen and on the Yuneec drone the avoidance system is mounted on the nose of the drone and only detect obstacles if it approaches them facing forward.

 

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How will Yuneec fare in getting Typhoon H Pro features up to speed?

Yuneec has set out to provide a host of delicate new features on the Typhoon H Pro and that has more than a few users worried that the initial cost will only grow quickly as the inevitable need for third-party accessories and replacements for damaged parts comes into play.

Already reports are out that the retractable landing gear has had issues and at times halts, making the flying profile more awkward. Other problems stemming from the landing gear mean moving around placements for the Intel Realsense module and figuring out an entire new production line sequence.

Of course UAV drone manufacturers normally go through teething issues to bring models up to scratch and invite a feedback loop from beta, or early, users who can help tweak R&D efforts.

Forums say Yuneec is along in that process, but as seen in the past with its internal WiFi card and related issues with GPS, fixing problems means sending units back to the head office where they pile up in need of attention as engineers in the company try and move ahead on new models.

At stake in that back-and-forth on the old and new is the real prospect of quality getting sidelined as a user, Andrew Z., in an August video posting showed.

“Just got my Yuneec Typhoon H Pro last week and took it to my overseas trip. 1.5 hours into flying it crashes into lake with no warning. There was a message on screen about 5 engine failures or something like it.”

And the feedback from fellow users then highlighted other probable causes, including issues that harken back to the Yuneec Q500.

“You know, that looks much like a battery failure, flying fine then no warning falls from sky then lights up the ST16,” said Batfire.

“Seen this myself with my copters but fortunately was only 2 foot off ground when failed. There is a lag time from bird to transmitter. The Yuneec batteries are not good batteries from the get go … check the resistance of a new one verses other brands and you will see. That’s why I replace them as soon as I get a high resistance battery. I saw this with the Q500 batteries and only use them in my land drones, no flying with those batteries due to this very issue.”

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Is the heavy and expensive Yuneec Q500 worth its price tag?

The Yuneec Q500 is marketed as a drone that can be used for film and photography, but the ultimate use is, really, up to the pilot and some of the restrictions in the design and what might be considered a shortage of R&D.

While the battery life in the Yuneec Q500 is reasonable, it doesn’t last as long as the battery in the DJI Phantom 4.

The Yuneec Q500 has a control unit that fashions a big display screen on the remote, a screen that is almost too big and low res. There are other issues with the Yuneec Q500 controller. The buttons and switches are not organized in the most logical or intuitive manner. And using it can be an overly complicated affair even for experienced pilots.

It is also worth considering that the Yuneec Q500 isn’t supported by a mobile app as efficient as the DJI Go app.

The tracking features on the Yuneec Q500 are decent but fail to live up to those in many a DJI model. In fact, a DJI Yuneec lawsuit underway is based on the similarities of some of these features between Yuneec drones and those from DJI.

The Yuneec Q500 is part of the effort by Yuneec China to challenge DJI – the largest among the world’s UAV drone manufacturers.

The DJI vs Yuneec contest underway is fairly interesting but one that DJI appears to be winning with some ease.

With the Phantom 4, DJI has further cemented its position as the undisputed leader in the market. Yes, the Yuneec Q500 can be an attractive looking drone with a bit of flair in its design, with a swept-back body and curved surfaces but its plastic material is far from classy or tasteful and it can also raise questions about the strength of the drone.

The shiny silver-and-white plastic skin of the body makes the Yuneec Q500 look more like an oversized toy than the serious device that the Yuneec Q500 is supposed to be.

The design is decent but not completely free from flaws – a fact that points out why DJI is the clear winner in terms of R&D and consumer focus.

DroneCompares reviews have overwhelmingly acknowledged the Yuneec Q500 as a drone with reasonable operating range with automated takeoff and landing. Having said that, against a DJI Phantom 4 comparison, the vast majority of experts endorse the DJI drone’s easy handling and control.

The Yuneec Q500 control unit may be a bit tricky to the first time user as well. While DJI features like ActiveTrack or TapFly put the Phantom series in a separate class from the Yuneec Q500.

Another major point of DJI Phantom 4 comparison against the Yuneec Q500 is the camera. The Yuneec Q500 costs more than most other drones Yuneec and other manufacturers. But pilots with first-hand experience are labelling the Yuneec Q500 camera as disappointing. The resolution seems to be inferior to even the older DJI Phantom 3 model. The Yuneec Q500 lens feels cheap and the image quality sometimes may look like it was shot with an amateur smartphone lens.

On the other hand, almost every DJI Phantom 4 review has showered an abundance of praise on its camera.

Overall, the Yuneec Q500 is an interesting drone with numerous flight modes and an ok camera but the biggest drawbacks for the Yuneec Q500 are performance inconsistencies and some of the features that are overcomplicated and difficult to use.

 

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DJI Phantom 4 completely outperforms Yuneec Q500

Yuneec strives really hard to take on DJI – the world’s largest UAV drone manufacturer – with a number of models aimed at different segments. As the competition between the two companies intensified, the Yuneec Q500 was launched in 2015 to compete with the DJI Phantom series.

Initially, Yuneec may have set out to challenge the overwhelming popularity of the Phantom 3 with the Yuneec Q500. That hasn’t quite happened. In fact, the Yuneec hopes of capturing the market with the Yuneec Q500 received a massive blow through the launch of the DJI Phantom 4.

Yuneec Q500 reviews have not been very positive so far. Launched as an expensive drone in the US$700, it was supposed to ‘wow’ pilots and experts. Unfortunately for Yuneec, the underlying R&D behind the Yuneec Q500 hasn’t been sound enough to match virtually no – mostly positive – DJI Phantom 4 review. A lot of pilots have already declared the Phantom 4 as the best ever consumer drone in the under US$2,000 price range. On the other hand, Yuneec Q500 reviews have questioned whether its price tag justifies its actual performance.

Among other issues, the problem that has bothered the Yuneec pilots more than anything else is the GPS issues with the Yuneec Q500. Not only does it take an excruciatingly long time to establish GPS connections when the Yuneec Q500 boots up, a lot of pilots have experienced connection loss. Some users posted on drone forums that the Yuneec Q500 UAV is prone to lose its satellite lock for a few seconds.

The backpack for the Yuneec Q500 – launched to cater to a niche segment of pilots who want to travel along with their drone as a carry-luggage – was also criticised by some customers who thought the soft backpack did not provide the best protection for their drones. Not so surprisingly the Yuneec Q500 backpack edition was quickly pulled back from the market.

In a DJI Phantom 4 comparison, the Yuneec Q500 never really offered any formidable challenge. Compared to the Yuneec Q500, there is an awful much to like about the DJI Phantom birds. DJI Phantom 4 signal loss is rare, because DJI drone connects to larger network of satellites, including some Russian satellites, which provide pilots with GPS and GLONASS connectivity, and augments those with a solid Obstacle Avoidance System.

DJI Phantom 4 also comes with ActiveTrack – a feature not found in the Yuneec Q500 or any other current Yuneec drone models. It’s a feature that allows drones to recognise a subject and follow it with absolute ease and stability. ActiveTrack works in combination with a state of the art Obstacle Avoidance System in the Phantom 4, this means that even inexperienced pilots can perform complex manoeuvres that were once only possible for the most experienced pilots. Plus, the Yuneec Q500 doesn’t have DJI’s TapFly – the option to just tap on your target on the screen, and let your drone fly there.

The Yuneec Q500 has missed the bar by a long margin, it seems.

 

 

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DJI Phantom 3 has cost advantages over Yuneec Q500 in roof inspections

The Yuneec Q500 has had many problems, not the least of which is that it is not the most affordable option for some jobs.

It could be that Drone Girl has too much time on her hands. Or maybe she is better than the rest of us at thinking about the known unknowns-, like whether our roofs have holes and need repair.

Either way, she has done a public service by alerting us on the most cost-efficient way to inspect roof tops. Not to mention, she has now helped many a person avoid a trip up a rickety ladder and a possible dangerous tumble off of a garage roof.

Through her work, Drone Girl confirms what many might not know, that an RC quadcopter or hexacopter to inspect your roof doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. She did a comparison of DJI Phantom vs various models from other UAV drone manufacturers to arrive at her conclusions.

The figures speak clearly. A Yuneec Q500 will set you back $699 to buzz above the shingles on your roof and beam back pictures of any trouble spots. But in DJI Phantom 3 comparison, she finds that one of the most popular drones ever will do the same job but cheaper.

“This drone (DJI Phantom 3) is incredibly wallet friendly,” Drone Girl tells us. “The video streams through your smartphone or tablet, which you can use to get real-time video.”

By “wallet friendly” Drone Girl means $499, hundreds of dollars less than the Yuneec Q500.

And just to show we are not making light of using a drone to see what is on your roof, we leave you with some insight from Drone Girl on the matter.

“Roof inspections can get fancy,” Drone Girl tells us. “You could add a thermal camera (particularly if you have solar panels on your roof). If you had a huge roof and needed to fly the exact same route every time, you might want to use Skycatch, which could even generate a map for you.”

“But for most roof inspectors, all you want is a relatively small drone that is stable, easy to fly, can get close to the roof, is safe, and offers both a live video feed and generates high qualities images or video that can be saved.”

Indeed, food for thought.

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Getting a Yuneec Q500 4K GPS lock might take a while

Yuneec Q500 reviews caution on flying without GPS despite issues.

Using GPS to fly a Yuneec Q500 means waiting for a satellite lock and that can take quite a while and also fail, as a strong signal remains elusive in many parts of the world because of the limited satellite coverage available.

For owners of a Yuneec Q500 this frustrating process can drain precious battery time and raise questions mid-flight about the status of a connection. Some Yuneec Q500 pilots might even consider flying without GPS assistance, despite suggestions to the contrary.

DJI vs Yuneec comparisons suggest these issues, common on the Yuneec Q500 4K and almost every type of Yuneec drone, are a rarity in every single RC quadcopter model manufactured by DJI, the market leader. That, at least, is what Jim Fisher says in a review of the Yuneec Q500 in PCMag.

The Yuneec Q500 4K“won’t take off until it achieves a GPS lock,” Fisher says.

“You can manually override this requirement if you want to fly without the aid of GPS, but I don’t recommend it. Indoor flight is certainly possible, but there’s no positioning system like you’ll find with the DJI Phantom 3 Professional … so you’ll have to take great care. Even a minor bump indoors can destroy a propeller.”

While a propeller might seem like minor and easily replaceable part of the Yuneec Q500 4K and any other drone but at US$15 each from Yuneec that can quickly add up if the issues are recurrent. And experience suggests that the issues are frequent with the Yuneec Q500.

And, as Fisher notes, the loss of a satellite lock can happen when the Yuneec Q500 is in mid-air.

“During my first run I had some thick trees between me and the Q500, which caused it to lose signal more quickly than I expected. The Q500 didn’t automatically return to home at that point, and the signal was too weak for the manual Home function to work. I was able to walk closer to the unit and regain control, but it was a scary moment in the air.”

He added the second time out was not a charm.

“The craft lost GPS lock momentarily and started to fly erratically,” he said of a test flight with the Yuneec Q500 4K, adding that the Yuneec drone “does wobble a bit in the air, which is somewhat disconcerting when compared with the absolute stillness of the Phantom 3 Professional.”

And finally, he said that even with the GPS issues he stayed with the system because of concerns on stability if it was disabled.

“I did all of my flying with the GPS enabled. If you’ve got a lot of experience flying remote control aircrafts without GPS assistance, you can disable it. When it’s turned off the Q500 4K can fly fast—nearly 60mph—and it can perform steep banks and turning maneuvers. But it’s also unstable in the air, and drifts down when moving forward. I don’t recommend it unless you’re a pro.”

 

 

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Yuneec drone image quality lapses a function of data flow

Problems with connections likely account for Yuneec drone image quality complaints.

Yuneec drone users often find perceptible differences in image and video quality compared to DJI models and many of the problems are linked to problems with the internal WiFi card that makes data transfers glitchy.

Yuneec has attempted to fix some of the data issues by offering to solder a new antenna onto some Yuneec drone versions, such as the Yuneec Q400 4K, and address other issues such as upgrading firmware, but persistent complaints about missing frames or out-of-color video even with Yuneec Typhoon H models and the Yuneec Typhoon actioncam are hard to ignore.

Some comments from Seachange01 draw sharp attention to the image problems on the Typhoon H camera feed and raise an issue that is fairly important, whether or not they can be fixed under warranty.

“Like many of you, I really want to do a lot of video making with this, it’s not just a fun flying toy for me. That being said, I seem to see a LOT of issues of “washed out color” in the many videos I have seen posted by Typhoon H users online,” Seachange01 said, when talking about the large Yuneec drone, a hexacopter.

“I am wanting to see if anyone here has gone through that issue, and if there was much that could be done to fix that problem shy of spending hours at the computer doing video editing. I know in many cases, people just leave settings on ‘auto’ to make life easier, and while I am no photography guru, I would happily invest the time in learning how to manually set the camera if it was definitely going to fix the issues and give me a far superior quality of video. I guess if it’s not something that is realistically able to be fixed, then the Typhoon dream is likely to end for me.”

One review from Base Bundle was even more to the point in a posting on another Yuneec drone, the Yuneec Q500.

“I was just solely disappointed with the aircraft stability and image quality in comparison to other drones on the market like DJI,” Base Bundle said. And Kevin McRae who liked other features on the Q500 Yuneec drone repeated the complains about “washed out color” noted by Seachange01.

“The camera on the other hand can produce overly warm photos/videos and I feel like the camera on the Phantom was slightly better at producing the right colors,” McRae said.

One reason for these recurrent Yuneec drone problems is that the WiFi feed has to exchange data with the controller in packets that can drop in transmission. This can lead to delays in sending and receiving images and the color and blurry edge conditions often noted by users.

Unlike these different Yuneec drone models, DJI uses a proprietary Lightbridge or Lightbridge 2 technology that avoids these data transfer glitches and that sets it apart from other UAV drone manufacturers like Yuneec.

Many users also complain of a cumbersome process to get parts fixed and upgraded that might mitigate the issues with Yuneec drone models and that is particularly the case with transmission issues that affect a number of in-flight parameters.

That leads to a fix-it-yourself mindset among many first-time Yuneec drone  users — a plan of action that can end up voiding any remaining warranty.

 

 

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Yuneec Q500 4K: not advanced enough, not agile enough either

In the consumer-level-drones market, DJI is the boss. A short time after its launched, the DJI Phantom 3 became one of the biggest selling drones ever. Yuneec China tried to capture a piece of that market pie with the Yuneec Q500 4K – with specs that sought to appeal to professional videographers, drone enthusiasts, and increasingly, mass-market consumers.

Unfortunately for the Yuneec Q500 4K , even before it gained some foothold in the market, the DJI Phantom 4 arrived and impressed everyone with its superior R&D and advanced features.

Yuneec had marketed the Yuneec Q500 4K as an “easy to fly” RC quadcopter even for those who’ve never laid eyes on a drone before. In reality, it takes quite a while to initiate the drone and get it airborne, with the longest amount of time being required for the GPS lock to be established. Plus, unlike the Phantom, the Yuneec Q500 4K isn’t supported by a mobile control platform – so tje convenience of an app like the DJI Go app is absent.

Big, heavy and slow. That’s the three-word summary of first impressions of the Yuneec Q500 4K. While the slower speed and lower altitude may make it a safer choice for beginners, it makes the Yuneec Q500 less attractive for those used to the nimbleness of similar high-end drones in that price segment. The battery life is limited and so is the maximum operating range against a DJI Phantom 4 comparison.

Though similar on paper, in terms of their specs and features, the Yuneec Q500 is no real match to the Phantom. Both have their strengths, and which one is best for you depends largely on what you plan to do with it. The Yuneec Q500 camera produces some reasonable results, albeit with slightly washed out colors and a bit blurry edges of the frames. While the Yuneec Q500 4K is slower and more sluggish than others, it’s reasonably easy to pilot. It’s a toy for people nervous about trying to control their first drone.

The Yuneec Q500 looks a bit bulkier and more ‘stocky’ than the sleek drones DJI produces. It’s also larger than the more familiar DJI drones, and made of plastic far flimsier than drone experts would usually prefer. That’s probably partly why the landing gear and gimbal has been known to break off the Yuneec Q500 upon a hard landing.

Testing the Yuneec Q500 4K, one of several models available, confirms that it’s capable of shooting 4k video. But almost any DJI Phantom 4 review suggests that the Phantom’s footage is crisper and sharper. The control unit has a bright screen; though flying in direct sunlight remains difficult. The Yuneec Q500 box helpfully includes a sunshade that attaches, awkwardly, to the controller with suction cups. It doesn’t completely solve the problem, but it does help.

Flying drones can be an intimidating experience, especially if you are operating an expensive and complicated model. The result is that, unless you’re so rich you don’t care, you spend most of your learning time in a nervous sweat. At least that’s experience with the Yuneec Q500 4K reported by most pilots on on-line forums.

If you’re just learning to fly, the Yuneec Q500 sluggishness is a plus. If you’re already comfortable flying drones, the Yuneec Q500 will likely feel like a step backward.

 

 

 

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Yuneec drone lost control-Episode 2

This Yuneec drone lost control discussions come from Yuneec groups.

“I just got my Yuneec Q500 and I was so happy for it. I take out like four times before the nightmare begins.

The first time I take out in a University Campus to flight, everything was ok, but suddenly like 5 minutes after take off the Quad start to descend really fast and kind of drift. I lose control and I couldn’t take it back until the drone bounce on earth. Two minutes after that I land and move away.

Three days later I go out to a parking lot to take a flight and everything looks fine , but around minute 7 it happens again, this time I retake control on the second bounce and speed up, I was in control for about 45 seconds and “this thing” happens again. I landed change the battery and take a new flight and everything works perfectly.

Last week I was in a public park and this happens again with my second battery flight, but this time I only lose control for about 3 seconds and before it hit the ground I regain control.

I flight all the time in SMART Mode and with at least 15 satellites for the drone and 9 satellites for the base.”

“Second flight of my Yuneec Q500 wound up with a crash…why? Yuneec Q500 was about 100 yards from me and maybe 30 feet high when everything came tumbling to the earth. Fortunately, not much damage but all I could find was three of the 4 props (all broken). Apparently the fourth prop came off causing the crash. I never found it. I thought these props were self tightening. I assume I did not have the runaway prop tight enough when taking off.”

“Yesterday I lost my Yuneec Q500 4k drone, it took off normally but after a couple of minutes at 150 ft the drone lost GPS signal and stopped responding to the ST10, I hit the HOME switch but nothing happened I just lost visual contact and after a few minutes all camera signal.”

“I lost mine a month or so ago. I saw it go down so I had a general idea of where I needed to start looking. But even then it took a good bit of two days and part of a night to find. I did not have an SD card in the ST10, a big no-no I have learned. I have one now plus I most all the time I attach a Trackimo to my Q500. The remote, and “home” arrow didn’t help me. Not much anyway, but I had only been flying 3 or 4 days so it’s pretty certain I didn’t know what I was doing trying to follow the arrow to where it went down.”

 

 

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